Have you ever put something in the oven, only to get distracted and end up overcooking it?

I used to do it all the time — especially once I started my business.  In the oven went dinner, then I was off to check emails or write.

An hour later there was a burning smell (and “yes”, baking potatoes CAN explode in your oven!).

Then I discovered the freedom that a simple timer could bring.  Set it, off to do whatever and come back when it beeps.

I employ the same principle in my business using a Polder Digital Timer (it’s the visual of digital “sand” that makes this far and above other timers):

Read the rest of this post »

Does summer weather with sunshine and blue sky make you dream about getting more time out of the office, away from your computer and out doing something fun? Here’s an important work assignment that you can do at your desk or just as easily beside the pool, at the beach or in a park.

I want you to take a weekly plan sheet (print 2 copies from your day planner or from Outlook.) and colored markers. Go somewhere where you can soak up some of this great summer weather and take a few uninterrupted minutes to consider what an ideal day or ideal workweek would look like for you.

We all have the same 24 hours/day and 168 hours/week.
How do you really want to spend that time?

There are only 168 hours in a week. They aren’t making more time. If you had total control and could structure your time, how would you block out your week? Would you work 40 hours/week? Would you work 4 hours/day, 8 hours/day, 14 hours/day?

Read the rest of this post »

During my last blog I started  with the premise that  distractions and interruptions are the big enemy of business success these days.  Time management turns out to be a huge challenge for business owners and executives. They get consumed fighting fires, addressing critical issues and needs. They just never get time (make time) to focus on important tasks – those tasks that make them most valuable in their business.

Here are a few more ways you can institute to get more control of your time so you can focus on those most valuable activities:

1. Schedule time to read and respond to email and stick to a time limit. When it’s under control, you can relax and focus on more important things.
2. Turn off automatic delivery of email. You get to control email. It does not need to control you.
3. Schedule time to return phone calls. Batch together all the cards you received and make those calls back to back.
4. Create a work environment conducive to productivity. For some people it’s moving their desk to a different place in the room. For some people it’s redesigning how they use their space or bringing in a Feng Shui expert. For some people it’s flowers, a rug or art on the walls. For me it’s a window looking out at nature.

P.S. For more ideas to save you more time this week and every week, request your copy of my report: Jumpstart Your Productivity.

Entrepreneurs who work at home are confronted with a whole set of challenges that other working people don’t have –  your four year old interrupts you with “Where’s my toy?”; the laundry and sink of dirty dishes stare you in the face; a stack of magazines you want to read or a TV program you want to watch tempts you…

But if you want to move your business forward and successfully juggle your responsibilities, you have to learn survival skills. Here are two common challenges we face and some suggestions on how to cope with them.

Read the rest of this post »

If you are thinking of hiring an assistant or a part-time staff member you may want to consider an unpaid or low-cost intern instead.  More and more interns are entering the job market as competition for paid jobs has increased.

Today’s intern is a far cry from the clueless 18 year old college student looking to waste time over summer vacation.  Never before have there been so many qualified people looking to build their resume as a way to improve their chances of landing a paid job.

Many people who have a college degree, or are in the midst of completing one, already have some valuable work experience, and are eager to build their resumes.   They will hit the ground running and can be a tremendous asset to your business.

Read the rest of this post »

Are you stuck? Stuck trying to rework a project or looking for the “perfect” solution? Stuck searching for the latest brainstorm, new business idea, or product stream? Are you stuck waiting for that “light bulb moment” that will pull all of the pieces together in their rightful place? Well, so are a lot of other people. As a whole, we spend a great deal of time being stuck, waiting to find “perfect,” and making ourselves stressed and miserable in the process. Why? Because we think that it’s our job to find the solution. When it’s not our place, at all, to find the answers, it’s simply our job to allow the answers to come to us. Yes, it really is that easy, we just tend to complicate the process because we’re conditioned to presume that the search must be difficult.

Have you ever gone to bed with something weighing on your mind, only to dream the solution? Ever wonder why? Well, it was the universe waiting until your brain was quiet and your mind was receptive enough to receive the answer and recognize it as the solution to what you were seeking. What about going to bed at night and just waking up with the answer having not even remembered dreaming? Do you see how powerful the universe is? And long as it is allowed, the answers will follow with much more ease than by struggling to find them.

Read the rest of this post »

Finding time to be productive can be greatly enhanced by having effective, and easy to use, lists.

How? Well, for starters, it’s important to not let your lists become so detailed that they are overwhelming. At the same time you don’t want to make them so broad that your specific goals get lost.

One of the most useful tools that I have developed for managing lists is the “Two Column Method.” This allows you to both lay out a plan for the day and reflect on it once a day is over.  I’ve had lots of clients use this method and adapt it to their needs quite successfully.

The term “two column” refers to the act of planning and then reflecting. It’s not meant to literally limit the number of columns that you use.  In fact, I would suggest using more than two columns as you expand and adapt the basic system to your purposes.

Read the rest of this post »

Finding time to deal with clutter is a challenge we all face … and for many, paper is right at the top of the list! As someone who accumulates paper, I keep coming back to that question – “How Do I Deal with All the Paper?”

Here are 3 tips that I have found very helpful, as I work to let go of the paper that can sometimes build up and clutter my workspace.

1. I’m a big recycler, and I’ve learned that recycling can be a very helpful intermediate stage in letting go, for me. I put paper that I’m finished with it my recycling box by my desk. There it usually sits for a couple of weeks, until the box is full enough to dispose of. If I haven’t needed one of the pieces of paper that’s in my box in those two weeks, I feel much more comfortable letting go. And if I do need it, in the interim, I know right where to find it!

Read the rest of this post »

It was National Procrastination Week (March 1 – 7, 2010) so it’s a good time as busy entrepreneurs to think about how to conquer procrastination. When you work at home it’s so easy to procrastinate. Why? Because you’re always busy.

You can confuse being busy with being productive. They are not the same thing.

For me, having three children and a home-based business make for a very busy day (as I’m sure you can relate to). There are lunches to pack, carpools to run, emails to answer, and calls to make. While all these tasks are necessary for me to run a household, and care for my children, I can use them as an excuse to procrastinate important projects that will help me grow my business.

Read the rest of this post »

I’m often asked how I get so much done or “where to start” once someone makes their Success Action List (sounds SO much better than “to do” list).

The answer is simpler than you may think. . .

First, look over your list and pick your #1 priority.  What is it that you’re going to work on in the next 30 minutes, 1 hour, however much time you’ve allotted?

Got your answer?

Great! Do the first thing you can and then, ask yourself “What’s my next action?”

By constantly asking yourself “What’s my next action?”, you eliminate the gap that frequently appears between today’s reality and tomorrow’s desired goal.

This simple question quickly clarifies things and you’ll be on your way in no time.

So, what’s your next action?